The area of the United States is so significant that it allows this state to occupy third place in the world among countries located on the largest plots of land. Statistical estimates indicate a figure reaching 10 million square kilometers. The United States is ahead of only Russia and China, and Canada continues to be on this list - the neighboring country of the United States, whose area allows it to gain a foothold in fourth place.
It should be noted that this arrangement of countries in the list is rather arbitrary, since it depends on some selection criteria. For example, there are territories that are still a stumbling block in relations between China and India. There is a controversial point when calculating the land occupied by the United States. We are talking about islands located in the Pacific Ocean and the West Indies. Depending on whether or not to take them into account, the real area of the USA can vary significantly.
Almost all states, namely 48, out of the 50 that are part of the United States, are located in North America. The largest of them is Alaska. It occupies over 1.7 million square kilometers and is separated from the main US lands by the territory of Canada. In contrast, Rhode Island is the smallest. Its area is only 4 thousand square meters. km, and land does not even take three of them. The last state to join the United States was Hawaii, to which more than 4 thousand kilometers from the extreme western point of the continental United States.
The large area of the United States led to the widest range of diverse features in the geography of the country and demonstrates the presence of all types of climate, although mostly moderate prevails. The tropical climate can be felt only in South Florida, and even in Hawaii. Alaska, as the northernmost state, has a polar climate, and the southwestern part of the country is replete with deserts.
The great plains show semi-arid conditions, and California, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, is Mediterranean. The US area, which borders the Gulf of Mexico, is often prone to hurricanes and tornadoes. Rocky mountains are located in the western part of the Great Plains, they are fan-shaped, expanding from north to south, reaching an altitude of 4300 km in Colorado (the eighth largest US state).
The United States contains one of the largest water systems in the world. It is formed by the Mississippi, Missouri and Jefferson rivers, which flow through the middle of the country, heading from north to south. Their total volume allows this system to take 4th place in the list of the largest water complexes on the planet.
As you can see, a large area of the United States causes a variety of living conditions, which (combined with the desire for better living conditions) leads to a situation where large masses of Americans are forced to constantly migrate. According to preliminary estimates, the number of people who are annually removed from their places, moving to other states, exceeds 5 million people.
It should be noted that the American nation is also one of the most traveling in the world. A large number of Americans are constantly abroad, studying the world. The main destinations for relaxation are the islands of the Pacific Ocean and the countries of Europe.
